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"It's taken so long - to get appointments, the people involved have just dragged their feet the whole time - from April to now. It's lost me my house.

"I know people keep saying, Universal Credit isn't very good.

Claire Wilkinson surrounded by suitcases of her stuff - as well as possessions belonging to her late mother (Image: Penny Cross)

"But it's worse than you can imagine - because it's making me homeless.

"I don't know what I am going to do."

Universal Credit - what is it and the problems so far

The rollout of the new benefits system replaces six forms of credit into one monthly payment - but some say it has been plagued with problems so far.

Just under one million are on it now, but seven million are set to be on the new system by the end of 2023.

The rollout begins for people moving over to the new system next year.

The Trussell Trust, the UK’s biggest food bank service, this week warned via The Independent that food bank use has soared by more than 13 per cent in a year as a direct result of Universal Credit.

Charity officials says thousands of families have been forced to rely on emergency supplies.

Claire, who suffers with vertigo and mental health problems, says she was given eight weeks notice to leave because her landlord was selling up.

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The Stockport-born woman says it wasn't until this month that her allowance was upped from £875 a month to £1,000 - which if sorted sooner could have given her the chance to find another place to live.

You can use a benefits calculator to help you understand what benefits you could get. You will be asked to enter information about your circumstances, and it will tell you which benefits you might be able to apply for. One of those might be Universal Credit.

Where you live

The Citizens Advice eligibility checker will tell you if you live in an area where you can claim Universal Credit. Using this link will take you to the Citizens Advice website.

Universal Credit is being introduced in stages, so even if you can’t claim Universal Credit now, it may become available in your area in the future.

What Universal Credit replaces

If you are already claiming these benefits or tax credits you don’t need to do anything now.

The Department for Work and Pensions will get in touch with you before there are any changes to your benefits or tax credits.

If you receive these benefits or tax credits and your circumstances change in a way that would have meant you would make a new claim to one of these benefits, you will now need to claim Universal Credit instead.

If you are receiving any of these benefits or tax credits they will stop if you make a Universal Credit claim.

If you are getting tax credits you can still choose to apply for Universal Credit, depending on your circumstances, but if you do all your benefits that Universal Credit replaces will stop.

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